By Kiso Simon
The federal government is wooing private investors to key in to the emerging opportunities and invest in Nigeria’s burgeoning railway networks.
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima made the call on Monday in Abuja during the Olopening ceremony of a two-day international Railway Conference and Expo 2025 with the theme: Opportunities and Challenges in Railway Development in Africa: A call for Investment.
He said the “task of maximizing the immense opportunities in the railway sector is not one we consider easy. It requires networks, partnerships, and robust collaboration with stakeholders.
“This is why our ongoing modernization projects Legos to Kano, Kano to Maradi, and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri are designed with open doors for private sector participation” he indicated.
He stressed the need to revive Nigeria’s rail services to build Africa’s biggest logistics hub.
VP Shettima said the Tinubu administration remains committed to modernizing rail networks, reducing pressure on highways, and connecting Nigerian cities through rail and road infrastructure.
>”The challenge ahead of us is to lead this race as the logistics hub of Africa by reviving and revitalizing our railway services. We must be conscious of our place as the anchor of West Africa’s economy and home to the continent’s largest population,” the VP stated.
He highlighted ongoing projects, including the Kano–Maradi railway modernization, the Lagos–Kano corridor, and the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri line, noting that they are designed to encourage private sector participation and ensure sustainability.
Shettima also emphasized the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to reduce over-reliance on road transport.
> “Railways offer safer, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly alternatives. They reduce carbon emissions, ease congestion, and support sustainable development,” he added.
While SGF Senator George Akume described the High-Speed Rail project as a bold initiative reflecting government’s commitment to transforming public transportation.
Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, outlined major achievements of the ministry even as he stress that railways remains a driver of national integration, regional trade, and environmental sustainability.
Some of the achievements included:
Facilitating the accelerated execution of the 203km Kaduna-Kano on going rail modernization project from 15% at the inception of the Administration to 53% and the 387 km Kano – Maradi with extension to Dutse from 5% to 60%.
Also the Kaduna – Kano project will be ready for completion and commissioning by December 2026, while the Kano – Maradi project will reach Katsina by December this year and be ready for completion and commissioning by March 2027.
Others included the successful completion of rehabilitation of Lagos – Kano old Narrow Gauge for freight of goods from the seaports to connect to Dala Inland Dry Port to put it to use; and the recent Federal Executive Council approval for the construction of one modern One-Bus Terminal in each geopolitical zone of the Country to be situated at Abeokuta (South West), Onitsha (South East), Warri, (South-South), Lokoja (North Central), Kano (North West) and Gombe (North East).
This development he said will enhance efficiency, public safety and welfare of passengers.
Some other achievements are the successful facilitation of takeoff of the Federal University of Transportation Daura whose manpower status at the inception of the Administration has only a Vice Chancellor; Supported the operationalisation of the laudable Presidential initiative on compressed Natural Gas through establishment of CNG Conversion Centres and training of over 6,000 transport professionals in 2024 alone by the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Zaria to administer transport initiatives, laws and policies; Facilitated the provision of Presidential transport festive relief programme across the county during Yuletide which transported over I million passengers free by rail and road in 2023 and 2024 respectively to enhance security and welfare of Nigerians; Recent introduction of dual-fuel locomotive technology flagged off on Abuja – Kaduna rail corridor to enhance operational cost effectiveness;
Federal Government‘s financial support for the establishment of light rail by states beginning with Kaduna, Kano and Ogun to enhance public transportation and economic productivity in the affected states and the country in general.
Sen. Alkali also listed the attraction of foreign investors for the construction of high speed rail from Abuja – Lagos, Abuja – Kano and Abuja – Port Harcourt to boost nation’s infrastructural development and revenue generation profile.
The ministry also facilitated the sourcing of funds from China Development Bank and the release of the Federal Government’s counterpart funds for the Kaduna-Kano rail modernization project; and
The recent approval of the National Land Transport Policy by the Federal Executive Council after decades of struggle since 1993. The policy will lay the foundation for future development of land transportation in Nigeria.
Minister Alkali identified three key priorities for the future:
Transforming Rail into an Economic Tool to serve agriculture, industry, and commerce.
Securing Sustainable Financing through public-private partnerships and innovative funding, and
Empowering People Through Rail, creating jobs and skills training via institutions like the Federal University of Transportation Daura and NITT Zaria.
He also underscored the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that the Kano–Maradi corridor would open Nigeria’s access to West African markets.
Dignitaries in Attendance included: The event was attended by top government officials, legislators, industry leaders, and traditional rulers including the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu; Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Adamu Aliero; the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe; the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; and the MD of Bethlehem Rail, Mr. Rowland Ocholi Ataguba.
